Audi allroad

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Model Overview

The Audi A4 Allroad is a crossover-wagon variant of the A4 sedan that rides on raised suspension for light off-road driving. The Allroad slots in price above the Q3 and Q5, but below the Q7 crossover.

History

The original Audi Allroad Quattro in the early 2000s was based on the midsize A6 sedan. The raised suspension was complemented by an adjustable height air suspension, larger wheels with off-road tires, and unpainted bumpers for a more aggressive appearance. With the adjustable suspension, the Allroad Quattro had a ground clearance of six to eight inches. Vehicles equipped with the manual also featured a low-range mode for serious off-road driving. In the U.S. power came from 2.7-liter twin-turbo V-6 making 250 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque mated to either a six-speed manual or five-speed Tiptronic automatic.

“Our driving route through western Austria encompassed everything from high-speed autobahns to two-lane mountain twisties to dirt and mud trails,” we said in our Euro-spec 2001 Audi Allroad Quattro review. “Even with its somewhat elevated center of gravity, the Allroad’s well-sorted underpinnings helped minimize body roll and maximize forward progress under virtually all conditions. Easy to maneuver and responsive to driver inputs, this stellar new Audi represents a seriously sporting option for customers who demand far more than a mere AWD wagon but have no use for a conventional SUV.”

In 2009, the U.S.-spec Allroad switched to the Audi A4 platform, while an A6-based Allroad is still available in Europe. Power for our 2013 Audi Allroad tester came from a turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 mated to an eight-speed automatic. With 211 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, the Allroad reached 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, while the all-wheel-drive helped it lap the future-eight in 27.1 seconds at 0.64 g lateral average.

“Overall, the Allroad is an impressive package for the active customer needing some off-road ability without sacrificing the efficiency and sport touring abilities of a wagon,” we said in our 2013 Audi Allroad First Test. “I drove the test vehicle back from the launch event in Colorado and never wished I was in a standard A4 Avant. It handles like a wagon, has the looks of a CUV, and will certainly go 90 percent of the places a CUV will go. While journalists will miss the choice of two wagons and a hatchback, the Allroad is certainly a good compromise.”

“Because of its winning combo of comfort, capability, and driving refinement, the Allroad became a favorite of video teams chasing show cars during the production of “Epic Drives” and our other Motor Trend video programs,” we said in our 2013 Audi Allroad 2.0T Verdict. “As winter 2013 rolled in, the Allroad’s Quattro system finally got to strut its stuff. Wearing a set of Pirelli Sottozero 3 snow tires, the Audi bashed through powder and ice on Mount Hood without complaint. This is one versatile rig.”

“To prove the Allroad’s chops on and off the road, Audi threw us onto the wet, snowy, and muddy roads of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, which proved to be the perfect location for the drive,” we said in our 2017 Audi A4 Allroad First Drive. “After a day driving in this setting, it was difficult to find much fault with the Allroad. It feels like a true wagon, not a crossover. What it lacks in terms of a commanding road presence and a high seating position, it makes up for in carlike handling and a very well-controlled ride.”

Why You’d Consider One

More ground clearance and cargo room than an Audi A4 sedan.

Why You’d Look Elsewhere

Less ground clearance than a Subaru Outback, and more expensive than a Q5.